Out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

We train teams and leaders to present, tell stories and persuade – in-house, anywhere in New Zealand.

Every programme is built around your team and run at your premises, or online. One-to-one coaching for a specific pitch or presentation is available too.

Call Russell on +64 21 357 750, or tell us what you need.

What we do

The Pickering Group is an Auckland-based training company. For twenty years we’ve taught professionals across New Zealand and Australia to speak well in the rooms that matter – and most of those rooms are small. A board of six, two people across a table, a leadership team that needs convincing. The big stage is part of it, but careers are made in the structured conversation with three or four people who can say yes.

Most of our work is in-house: a team of up to ten, built around the presentations your people actually have to give. We also run keynotes and short workshops for larger groups, a small number of public courses each year – Auckland, and other centres when enough people ask – and one-to-one coaching when there’s a single high-stakes presentation on the line.

Everything we teach comes back to three practices – Planning, Messaging and Delivery – and to a simple idea: the problem is rarely nerves or slides. It’s usually that the presenter hasn’t worked out what they want the audience to think, feel or do differently. Once that’s sorted, the rest gets a lot easier.

If you’re a manager looking for development for your team, start here.

What our Clients Say

Dozens of programmes delivered across New Zealand and Australia…A transformational experience for participants - for some, life-changing…The difference between The Pickering Group and a typical supplier is that they have an ability to really understand a company – it’s purpose, values, culture, and current environment – at a deeper level than most. They get it. They adapt. They make an enormous difference.”

Victoria Goulden Learning and Design Manager Pernod Ricard Australasia

“When I needed Presentation Skills and Storytelling training for 60+ of our regional sales manager - delivered in just one impactful day - Russell and The Pickering Group totally nailed it!!”

Annaliese Atina General Manager Field Sales & NCC Coca-Cola Amatil NZ

“The ‘Leading with Stories’ programme empowered our senior leaders to continue telling the stories of our transformation – to lift our strategy out of the spreadsheets and PowerPoints and into the hearts of our people.”

Wayne McNee Chief Executive. Livestock Improvement Corporation

“Russell Pickering is STELLAR at his craft, absolutely the best in New Zealand. He exemplifies presence and connection. My clients rate him as a top notch presenter and executive coach. If you need to ramp up your impact as a leader, Russell is the man to call.”

Harold Hillman, Ph.D. Managing Director, Sigmoid Curve Consulting Group

"Hugely popular courses – with immediate, tangible results. Well over a hundred of our people are now more impactful, confident speakers because of The Pickering Group’s programmes"

Kerry Dewar Leadership & Capability Manager Mercury

"The ability to communicate your ideas with clarity, to inspire your audience to action, to share stories that bring your business strategy to life – these are all essential qualities for leaders in the modern business world. Nobody helps you do that better than Russell and his team at The Pickering Group.”

Joanna Simon Chief Operating Officer DLA Piper

“When we were looking to embed the crucial leadership capability of storytelling across the Agency, The Pickering Group provided a tailored programme that was engaging, practical and fun – but most importantly – that worked. Our people come away from the programme absolutely buzzing and eager to utilise their new-found storytelling skills.”

Trent Maulder Senior Organisation Development Consultant NZ Transport Agency

“Russell takes you out of your comfort zone and into a growth zone related to the art of presenting and personal persuasion. He is masterful at his craft; a true sensei in every regard. Step Into the Spotlight is an incredible gift of wisdom, insights and practical ways to influence others with maximum impact.”

Harold Hillman Ph. D, leadership coach Author of The Impostor Syndrome and EM-PA-THY

Some of the organisations we've worked with

"Your job isn't to be evaluated by your audience. It's to be of value to them. Get that the right way round and most of the nerves take care of themselves." Russell Pickering – Founder & Managing Director, author of Step into the Spotlight

Russell's book, Step into the Spotlight

The thinking behind every programme we run, in one book. How to work out what you're there to say, say it so it lands, and stop getting in your own way.

Order the book